Combined folding bag, brief case, and purse



May 19, 1925.

J. E. M NALLY COMBINED FOLDING BAG, BRIEF CASE, AND PURSE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1922 l l I I l I l I l ll v lllllll'lll 1 l l I mm 2 unlwm iii: 1:1}.

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May 19, 1925.

J. E. M NALLY COIBINBD FOLDING BAG, BRIEF CASE, AND PURSE Filed Jan. 9, 1922 3 sheets sheet. 2

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May 19, 1925.

J. E. M NALLY COIBINBD FOLDING BAG, BRIEF CASE AND PURSE Filed Jan. 9. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,jizuenier Jib]: E/Yfli] w .y V L g Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN E. MONALLY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GEORGE S. MEYTERS, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COMBINED FOL DING BAG, BRIEF CASE, AND PURSE.

Application filed January 9, 1922. Serial No. 528,113.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. MCNALLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Folding Bags, Brief Cases, and Purses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a highly efficient folding bag convertible into a brief case or a purse, and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of the folding bag, open;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in section, taken on the line'3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4. is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, with the exception that the separable fastener in the bellows is connected, prior to folding the bag, to form a brief case;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, with the exception that the bag has been transversely folded upon itself to show a further step in converting the bag into a brief case;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of th brief case;

Fi 7 is a view in section, taken on the line -7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in front elevation showing the first step in folding the bag to form a: urse;

1g. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 8, with the exception that the bag has been further folded to form a purse;

Fig. 10 is a View showing the bag still further folded to form a purse; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the purse with the front flap open.

The improved bag 12 is of elon ated rectangular fc'mation and the vertica edges of its front and back are connected by bellows 13, which permit the front and back of the bag to be moved substantially parallel to ward and from each other. To the upper portion of the back of the bag 12 are secured inner and outer pockets 14 and 15 for carrying money and small articles. These pockets l4 and 15 are considerably narrower than the bag 12 and are located at the intermediate portion thereof. Front and rear flaps 16 and 17 are formed as an entirety and intermediately secured by stitches to the upper edge of the back of the bag 12 over the pocket 15. The rear flap 17 is arranged to normally close the outer pocket 15 and is releasably secured thereto by separable fastener members 18. The front flap 16 normally extends over the open top of the bag 12 and closes the intermediate portion thereof and is releasably secured to the front of the bag by separable fastener members 19.

A pair of loop-like handles 20 is secured, one to the back and the other to the front of the bag 12 at the top thereof, outward of the front flap 15 and are so arranged as to permit said flap to be easily inserted between the ends thereof. To close the open top of the bag 12, outward of the handles 20, are relatively'narrow flaps 21 of the same length as the front flap 16 and are releasably secured to the front of the bag 12 by separable fastener members 22. It will thus be seen that the front flap 16 and the flaps 21 completely close the open ton of the bag 12, except for small openings between the ends of the handles 20.

The ba 12 may be converted into a brief case by f olding the same upon itself substantially along the center line X and securing it in folded position by engagement of the separable fastener members 19 and 22 at the top of the bag with the separate fastener members 23 at the bottom of the bag, the front of the bag being folded within the back. When so folded the upper portion of the bag may be opened up b straightening the edge bellows 13, the b'ac of the bag being drawn up to form a false bottom. In opening up the top of the bag an additional fold is formed in the front of the bag and in the portion of the bellows connected thereto along the false bottom and this fold is held by separable fastener members 24 in the portion of the bellows which is folded upon itself. The fastener members 24 may be secured together prior to the folding of the bag upon itself to take up the fold in the bellows and front of the bag prior to the folding of the bag upon itself. The brief case may also be closed in the same manner that the bag 12 is closed, by the flaps 16 and 21, and which flaps, at this time, are secured to the front of the brief case by their separable fastener members 19 and 22 which cooperate with separable fastener members 25 and 26, respectively, secured to the back of the bag 12 directly opposite the separable fastener members 23 on the front of the bag.

To convert the bag into a purse, in which the bag is folded into its most compact form, said bag is first folded on the line X and thereafter, its longitudinal edge portions are folded 0n the lines Y toward each other onto the front of the bag, and it will be noted that lines Y are at substantially the longitudinal edges of the pockets 14 and 15 and the flaps 16 and 17. The bag is then again transversely folded on the lines Z, which when the bag is folded on the lines X, are located .one in front of the other. To hold the bag thus folded, there is secured, by stitches, to the inside of the front of the bag 12 at the top thereof, a relatively wide lock strap 27 arranged to be-folded over the fold ed sections of the bag, as shown in Fig. 11, and releasably secured to the front of the purse by separable fastener members 28 and 29, respectively, the former of which is secured to said lock strap and the latter of which is secured to the back of the bag substantially on the line X. With the bag thus folded, there is formed between the front and backthereof, and between the ends of the handles 20, a purse-opening or pocket 30 in which may be carried various different articles. This pocket is normally closed b the front flap 16 which extends through the handles 20 over the pockets 14 and 30, folded sections of the bag held by the lock stra 27 and releasably secured to the front of the purse by its separable fastener.memher 19 and a separable fastener member 31, secured to the back of the bag betwetn the bottom of the pocket 15 and the separable fastener member 29. (See Fig. 2). Before folding the bag to form the purse, the flaps 21 are turned into the ba as shown by broken lines in Fig. 8, an when the ha is folded to form a brief case, the loc strap 27 is folded into the bag.

From the above description, it is evident that when thebag is open, it forms an ideal shopping bag having a large carrying capacity, and when folded to form a brief case. it is well adapted for school children and students for carrying books and Yfll'lfillS different articles and ma} be securely closed to prevent articles from being lost there from. The bellows 13 permit the brief case to be opened up to give a large carrying capacity and, at the same time, the front and back thereof retain substantially parallel arrangement and prevent bulging, when articles are placed therein, which would give the brief case a neat appearance. \Vhen the bag is folded to its smallest carrying capacity, it forms a purse and has considerable room therein, and at the same time, the two flaps 16 and 17 give the purse the appearance of the purses now commonly carried. In the various different adjustments of the bag, the pockets 14 and 15 are always accessible.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A hag having an outer pocket, 2. single piece of material intermediately secured to the outside of the bag above said pocket to afford two flaps, one of said flaps being arranged to close said pocket, and the other of said flaps being arranged to be folded over the open top of the bag, and separable fasteners for securing the free ends of the flaps in respect to the bag on opposite sides thereof.

2. A bag, the sides of which are adapted to be transversely folded in opposite directions to afford a flat false bottom, and separable fasteners securing one of said sides thus folded which is again folded upon itself, the bottom portion of said bag at the false bottom being folded upon one side of the bag.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in further combination with separable fasteners for securing the bottom portion of the bag folded.

4. A bag, bellows connecting the front and back of the bag at the ion itudinal edges thereof, the sides of the bag eing adapted to be transversely folded toward each other into overlapping arrangement to afford a false bottom, and longitudinally spaced separable fasteners on the bellows for securing the bag thus folded.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which that portion of the bag below its false bottom is adapted to be folded upon that portion of the bag above said false bottom, and separable fasteners for securing the bag in its last folded osition.

In testimony w ereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN E. McNALLY.

bag prior to the foiding of the bag upon itself. The brief case may also be closed in the same manner that the bag 12 is closed, by the flaps 16 and 21, and which flaps, at this time. are secured to the front of the brief case by their separable fastener members l9 and 22 which cooperate with separable fastener members 25 and 26, respectively, secured to the back of the bag -12 directly opposite the separable fastener members 23 on the front of the bag.

To convert the bag into a purse, in which the bag is folded into its most compact form, said bag is first folded on the line X and thereafter. its longitudinal edge portions are folded on the lines Y toward each other onto the front of the bag, and it will be noted that lines Y are at substantially the longitudinal edges of the pockets 14 and 15 and the flaps 16 and 17. The bag is then again transversely folded on the lines Z, which when the bag is folded on the lines X, are located one in front of the other. To hold the bag thus folded, there is secured, by stitches, to the inside of the front of the bag 12 at the top thereof, a relatively wide lock strap 27 arranged to De-folded over the folded sections of the bag, as shown in Fig. 11, and releasably secured to the front of the purse by separable fastener members 28 and 29, respectively, the former of which is secured to said lock strap and the latter of which is secured to the back of the bag sub stantially on the line X. With the bag thus folded, ther, is formed between the front and back thereof, and between the ends of the handles 20, a purse-opening or pocket 30 in which may be carried various different articles. This pocket is normally closed b the front flap 16 which extends throug the handles 20 over the pockets 14 and 30, folded sections of the bag held by the lock strap 27 and releasably secured to the front of the purse by its separable fastener,member 19 and a separable fastener member 31, secured to the back of the bag between the bottom of the pocket 15 and the se arable fastener member29. (See Fig. 2). efore folding the bag to form the purse, the fla s 21 are turned into the ba as shown y broken lines in Fig. 8, an when the ha is folded to form a brief case, the loc strap 27 is folded into the bag.

From the above description, it is evident that when the bag is open, itforms an ideal shopping bag having a large carrying capacity, and when folded to form a brief case, it is well adapted for school children and' students for carrying books and various different articles and may be securely closed to prevent articles from being lost therefrom. The bellows 13 permit the brief case to be opened up to give a large carrying capacity and, at the same time, the front and back thereof retain substantially parallel arrangement and prevent bulging, when articles are placed therein, which would give the brief case a neat appearance. \Vhen the bag is folded to its small est carrying capacity, it forms a purse and has considerable room therein, and at the same time. the two flaps. 16 and 17 give the purse the appearance of the purses now commonly carried. In the various different adjustments of the bag, the pockets 14 and 15 are always accessible.

What I claim is 1. A bag having an outer pocket, a single piece of material intermediately secured to the outside of the bag above said pocket to afford two flaps, one of said flaps being arranged to close said pocket, and the other of said flaps being arranged to be folded over the open top of the bag, and separable fasteners for securing the free ends of the flaps in respect to the bag on opposite sides thereof.

2. A bag, the sides of which are adapted to be transversely folded in opposite directions to afford a flat false bottom, and separable fasteners securing one of said sides thus folded which is again folded upon itself, the bottom portion of said bag at the false bottom being folded upon one side of the bag.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in further combination with separable fasteners for securing the bottom portion of the bag folded.

4. A bag, bellows connecting the front and back of the bag at the longitudinal edges thereof, the sides of the bag being adapted to be transversely folded toward each other into overlapping arrangement to afford a false bottom, and longitudinally spaced separable fasteners on the bellows for securing the bag thus folded.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which that portion of the bag below its false bottom is adapted to be folded upon that portion of the bag above said false bottom, and separable fasteners for securing the bag in its last folded osition.

In testimony w ereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN E. MoNALLY.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assi 'nee in Letters Patent No. 1,537,956,

grant/ed May 19, 1925, upon the application of John E. McNally, of Minneapolis,

Minnesota, was erroneously written and printed as Geor written and printed as George in this ofiice; and that the said Letters Patent should. be

name should have been records of assignments S. Meyers, whereas said Myers, as shown by the read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of June, A. D. 1925.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING, Acting Gomz'asiamr of Patents.

name should have been written and printed as George Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,537 ,956, granted May 19, 1925, upon the application of John E. McNally, of Minneapolis, Minnesota,wa,s erroneously Written and rinted as Geor S. Meyers, whereas said 5. Myers, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the fatent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of June, A. D. 1925.

[sun] KARL FENNING,

Acting aflmm'ksiomer of Patents. 

